| Reuben (bible) |
Article Index for Reuben |
Website Links For Reuben |
Information AboutReuben (bible) |
|
The text of the having witnessed Leah's misery, in regard to her status as the less-favourite of Jacob's wives, implying that the Etymology of ''Reuben'' is that it derives from ''raa beonyi'', meaning ''he has seen my misery''; the second explanation is that the name refers to Leah's hope that Reuben's birth will make Jacob love her, implying a derivation from ''yeehabani'', meaning ''he will love me''. Another Hebrew phrase to which ''Reuben'' is particularly close is ''ra'a ben'', meaning ''behold, a son'', which is how Classical Rabbinical Literature interpreted it, although some of these sources argue that Leah was using the term to make an implied distinction between Reuben and Esau , his uncle''Jewish Encyclopedia''''Bereshit'' 7b. Some scholars suspect that the final consonant may originally have been An ''l'' (similar to An ''n'' in the Early Hebrew Alphabet )Cheyne and Black, ''Encyclopedia Biblica'', and Josephus rendered the name as ''Reubel''ibid; it is thus possible that Reuben's name is cognate with the Arabic term ''Ra'abil'', meaning ''wolves''ibid. In the Torah, Reuben is briefly described as having had and Naphtali , this is characterised as Incest in classical rabbinical sources''Jewish Encyclopedia''. The Torah argues that Reuben's behaviour angered Jacob to the extent that he gave Reuben's birthright (as firstborn) to Joseph; classical rabbinical sources argue that the birthright had included the right of his descendants (the tribe of Reuben) to become ruler over the tribes (transferred to Judah ) and priests (transferred to Levi )ibid. However, some of these sources argue that Reuben hadn't actually had sexual activity with Bilhah, but instead had simply supported the cause of his mother Leah, by harming that of Bilhah, angering Jacob; in these sources, it is argued that after the death of Rachel (Jacob's favourite wife), Jacob had attempted to move Bilhah's bed close to him, so Reuben moved it awayibid. The classical rabbinical texts argue that Reuben immediately showed contrition for his actions in regard to Bilhah, and thus was the ''first Penitent ''; initially, according to these sources, Reuben was penitent by secretly Meditating , and abstinence from meat and wine, but when Judah confessed to the matter of Tamar , Reuben admitted what he had done, so that the other brothers were not punished for itibid. The classical sources go on to state that in honour of this voluntary penance and confession, Yahweh let the tribe of Reuben have Hosea as a member, and Reuben was given a reward in The Future World ibid. Although part of the plot against were located in the territory of the tribe of Reuben, since Reuben (the individual) had tried to save Joseph from the mob of his brothers''Jewish Encyclopedia'', ''Reuben''. Classical rabbinical sources argue that Reuben was born on the 9th of Kislev , and died at the age of 125''Jewish Encyclopedia''. The Midrashic Book Of Jasher argues that when he died, Reuben's body was placed in a coffin, and was later taken back to Palestine , where it was buriedibid. SEE ALSO CITATIONS AND NOTES |
|
|